Lil'wat Nation to receive $350,000 for child care

The Lil'wat Nation will receive just over $350,000 in funding
from the B.C. Government towards the creation of 50 child care spaces at their
Pqusnalhcw Child Care Centre.

The financing, part of the Ministry of Children and Family
Development's Child Care Capital Funding Program, will help with the
construction of an addition to the current facility, equipment, furnishings and
fees associated with the development. Upon completion, the centre will house10
spaces for tots three years of age and under, 20 for out of school children and
20 will be dedicated to children older than 30 months.

“This funding will help many Lil'wat Nation parents and
families increase their access to quality child care spaces and services for
their children," said MLA Joan McIntyre. "Many parents tell me they
would like to see more child care spaces available and this is especially true
in smaller communities, such as Mount Currie, where demand often outstrips supply.
By investing into child care, we are creating more day care spaces to help
working parents and families in addition to providing our children with a
stimulating and safe learning environment."

The funding will be paid to the Lil’wat Nation in two instalments.
The first, for $140,000, will be sent immediately. The second, for $210,000,
will be included in the 2006-07 fiscal year.

The province's Child Care Capital Funding Program assists
communities create new licensed centre-based child care spaces for children
under the age of six. Under the program, applicants may receive funding for
purchase of equipment, buildings, renovating or expanding the capacity of
existing child care facilities to create new child care spaces.